The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage [Paperback]

S. L. MacGregor Mathers (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2004

Some consider this to be the best book on magic available. The system of magic found here originated in Egypt from a magician who was known as Abramelin the Mage. It became the main source in the work of Aleister Crowley, who based many of his magical concepts and rituals on it. This book contains a complete system of ceremonial magic, covering areas considered to be both black and white. It is an advanced test that requires focus and concentration. If patience is used, one can be successful in its practice.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French, Hebrew (translation) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Book Tree (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585092525
• ISBN-13: 978-1585092529
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,398,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating reading, but not completely reliable, March 9, 2003

By 

J. H. Peterson (Kasson, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage (Dover Occult) (Paperback)

This interesting grimoire was published by S.L. Mathers in 1898, based on a flawed French manuscript. The elaborate and lengthy method it describes for attaining magical knowledge and power is considerably different from the Solomonic grimoires, which it disparages. The flamboyant occultist Aleister Crowley considered it of great importance and underwent the magical operation described. The noted occultist Franz Bardon was familiar with and used the 1725 edition of Peter Hammer.

The text was evidently originally written in German, and a German edition which compares the known manuscripts has been published recently by Georg Dehn. (Abraham von Worms. Buch Abramelin. Ed. G. Dehn, Saarbrücken 1995.) Although Dehn was impressed by how closely Mathers rendered the French text, it is clear that Mathers' exemplar did not fully understand the text it was based on, so cannot be entirely relied upon.

These older German manuscripts have additional material, and reflect a more elaborate operation. One notable difference is that the operation lasts a year and a half, not six months as described in Mathers' text. Dehn's edition also contains an additional book (mostly a collection of recipes) not found in Mathers' edition. Another problem with Mathers' text is that it did not fill in most of the letters in the magical squares, so many of Mathers' comments on the same are irrelevant. Note that with the corrections, there is a close connection between the lists of spirits and the magical squares.

Dehn regarded the name "Abraham of Worms" as a pseudonym for the well known scholar Rabbi Jacob ben Moses ha Levi Moellin, more commonly known as "The MaHaRIL." However, see comments by Gershom Scholem in Kabbalah (Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House: 1974, p. 186) who was not impressed with it. According to Scholem, the author, although possessing an uncommon knowledge of Hebrew, was not in fact Jewish. He sums it up thus: "It shows the partial influence of Jewish ideas but does not have any strict parallel in kabbalistic literature."

Although Mathers' edition will give a good idea of Abramelin's methods, Dehn's German edition must be considered indispensible until an English translation based on his texts is available.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adept 5=6, April 19, 2003

By 

Stephanie Michelle Whittaker (Philadelphia PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage (Dover Occult) (Paperback)

This is a complex book and the rituals involved should not be attempted by any initiate, and especially not by the un-initiated. It involves the Practical aspects of the Qabalah, what Abraham the Jew (the supposed author) describes as a Lesser Form of the Theoretical Qabalah known as the "Sacred Magic".

The most significant part of the book involves the Ritual to Attain to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn this mystical ritual was described as Seeking the Higher Genius. Aleister Crowley adopted the language of the Sacred Magic when he utilized Aiwass 418 as his own Holy Guardian Angel. However, the Jewish Qabalists refer to it as the Maggid or Angelic Preacher, and it was a major aspect of the Safed school.

The Sacred Magic is essential in that it is the only manual available that so eloquently describes the process by which one might attain to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Maggid. This is the Heart of the Tree of Life glyph. It is Tifareth (Beauty or Harmony). It is the apex of the Meditative Qabalah, as well as the Theoretical and the Practical.

The Sacred Magic is divided into 3 Sections:

Section 1 is an autobiography of Abraham b. Simon the Jew. Since Lamech is his second-born son, he provides him with the Lesser Qabalah, whereas he provided his first-born son, Joseph, with the Greater Qabalah. Abraham descibes the process by which he received this Tradition from Abramelin the Jew of Egypt.

Section 2 describes the ceremonial magic (theurgy) by which one might obtain to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. These rituals often require a deep knowledge of Judaica

Section 3 describes the actual Sacred Magic, which involves Magical Squares by which one subjugates the Evil Spirits to perform miraculous feats for the Adept. These Qabalistic Squares are complex and require a deep knowledge of Hebrew and Gematria.

The Sacred Magic promotes actions that might be considered immoral by our modern society. Abraham appears to have been a Bogomil, and therefore, one should have a deep knowledge of history in order to comprehend the maning. Otherwise, Abraham appears to promote an anti-female bias, and even appears to promote child-endangerment with his use of the Child Clairvoyant.

The translator S.L.M. Mathers provides excellent commentary throughout, unfortunately, the Old English is often difficult to understand. It is like reading the King James Bible. And, the overall appearance of the book and the pages of the book appear to be rather antiquated as well. But, this is the only version of the book that is available right now, and it is an excellent Resource.

Shalom - Soror Samhain

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but NOT for beginners!!!, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage (Dover Occult) (Paperback)

This book is an amazingly real Grimoire and textbook on the "summoning" variety of Magick. It's easy to understand, but that doesn't make it for the beginner! Surely, only an experienced Magician can use this book effectively and without dangerous side effects. One word of caution to even the most advanced: BE CAREFUL! This book has well been known to summon things of it's own accord. If you keep a copy around, be sure to perform Banishings daily!